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What is albumin?
Albumin is a protein found in the blood. The amount of albumin you have
in your blood is measured every month when you have your blood
tested. Normal albumin is 40 grams a litre.
A low albumin means that you are not eating enough protein in your
diet. Albumin can also be low when you do not eat enough quantity
of food to get enough calories. You need calories to meet your body’s
needs each day. Calories also help your body use protein foods
better.
There are many reasons for low albumin. Here are a few reasons:
• Poor nutrition which may be caused by nausea, vomiting and feeling sick.
• Depression, social isolation or not being able to buy the right types of
food can also affect whether you eat properly.
You will need to increase the amount of good quality protein you eat
every day. First check your meal plan to see if you are using all of
your protein portions. Also, find out if you are using all of your other
food categories.
Here are some tips to increase the amount of protein in your diet every
day:
• Eat your biggest meal at a time in the day when your appetite is best.
• If you have a small appetite, snacks help you add extra protein and
calories. Therefore, try to eat between meals and before bedtime.
• Add cooked, diced or ground meat or poultry to soups, casseroles
and stews.
• Eat cottage cheese with fruit, peanut butter on melba toast and
cheese with a muffin.
• Add tuna or grated hard-boiled egg to sauces. Serve over pasta, rice
or toast.
• Blend cottage cheese with sour cream and herbs to dip vegetables.
• List foods that you love within your diet guide. Prepare some of them
ahead of time so they will be ready when you need a quick meal.
• Eat fats and sugar containing foods to boost up calories for good use
of proteins. Here are some tips to help: